In a disturbing series of human rights violations, reports from Pakistan reveal the targeted demolition of Hindu places of worship, with the Hinglaj Mata Mandir (temple) in Sindh province becoming a victim of this crackdown on religious minorities. According to reports, authorities in the Tharparkar District cited a court order to justify the demolition of this Hindu temple in the city of Mithi.
Pakistan has been under constant scrutiny for severe human rights violations, specifically targeting Hindus and their places of worship. The Hinglaj Mata Mandir (temple) in Sindh province became a victim of this crackdown on religious minorities, as officials in the Tharparkar District cited a court order to justify the demolition of this Hindu temple in the city of Mithi.
Adding to this, exclusive information from several Pakistani news channels reveal the demolition of another Hindu site – the Sharda Peeth Mandir (temple) near the Line of Control (LOC). This action occurred despite a standing Supreme Court order aimed at protecting the temple. There are reports indicating the construction of a coffee house near the temple, scheduled for inauguration in November this year.
Former cricketer Danish Kaneria brought attention to this alarming development through a tweet, condemning the ongoing crackdown on Hindu religious places by Pakistani authorities. “Pakistani authorities continues crackdown on Hindu religious places. Following an order of anti-encroachment court Mirpurkhas, Hinglaj Mata Mandir has been demolished in Mithi, Tharparkar, Pakistan,” Danish Kaneria wrote on X.
The attacks on Hindu temples in Pakistan are not a new occurrence. Danish Kaneria had previously reported an attack on a Hindu temple in Karachi last year.
Top government sources acknowledge that such atrocities against Hindus are not isolated incidents in Pakistan. The community has faced persistent challenges, including targeted violence, killings, and encroachments on their lands. Local involvement in these acts, often followed by government endorsement, has been a recurring pattern.
Even the Sharda Peeth, recognised as a UNESCO site, did not escape destruction. Shockingly, the demolition was given the green light even though a standing Supreme Court order prohibited so. The demolition was reportedly carried out to make way for a coffee house which is scheduled to be inaugurated later this month.
This action is a massive Jolt to Hindus in Pakistan
Hinglaj Mata Mandir, also known as Hinglaj Devi, Hingula Devi, and Nani Mandir, is a Hindu temple situated in Hinglaj, a town on the Makran coast in the Lasbela district of Balochistan. It is located in the middle of the Hingol National Park. This temple holds significance as one of the 51 Shakti Peethas in the Shaktism denomination of Hinduism. Among the three Shakti Peethas in Pakistan, the others are Shivaharkaray and Sharada Peeth.
The demolition contradicts international preservation efforts and raises questions about protecting cultural and religious heritage in the region. These incidents highlight the continued persecution faced by Hindus in the country.
Previous such instances
Earlier in July, another Hindu temple was demolished in the Islamic country after being declared an ‘old and dangerous structure’.
The Mari Mata Temple in Karachi’s Soldier Bazar was razed to the ground by bulldozers in the presence of a heavy contingent of police force.
The temple was built 150 years ago and covered some 400 to 500 square yards in the area. The land of the temple had been the target of land grabbers and developers for quite some time.
